My Father has given me his criteria for a new van.

His full-sized GMC hit 190,000 miles and he is ready to replace it. He is looking for a full-sized passenger van.

1. None of those ugly European-looking things!
2. Nothing from Dodge, they are crap! (this is based on experience with a used 1978 Plymouth Voyager)
3. Not a fan of Fords.
4. I can't stand the GMC because the spare tire is below the van...I want one with the spare in the back like every other van I ever owned!

He has ruled out Mercedes, Dodge, Ford and GMC, and most likely Chevy. That leaves Nissan, and I am not sure he could go with a "for-in" van either. This is going to be an uphill climb. I think I will look for a kit to move the spare tire inside!

$20! That may be the answer.

That Foreign Nissan Full Sizer is assembled in Tennessee...if that helps.

How about a slightly smaller van that still offers a lot of usable sapce and can be bought right next to the Apple Pie at your local Chevy Dealer?

GM van with a tire mount as pictured above is the answer.

Sounds like the rear hvac in the nissan sucks for passengers. http://www.edmunds.com/nissan/nv-passenger/2015/consumer-reviews/

Your Dad needs to open his mind and divest it of that old nonsense.

In other words, I wouldn't touch that situation with a 10-foot pole, because no matter what you'll be blamed for any failures and he will frustrate you with his nonsensical desires.

That said, the van that JG just bought looks like it could meet the needs.

I've driven the full-size Nissan vans. They don't drive any better than the domestics, but are far, far uglier. They are really one of the ugliest things ever created by man. I think someone at Nissan design has spiked the water bottle with the same drugs the AMC stylists were on in the 70s.

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/12/2012-nissan-nv-full-size-commercial-van-pricing-announced.html

Reason number four is truly bizarre. How often does one use a spare tire to really worry about it's location. I've never been a fan of the tire on a carrier on the outside of a vehicle as it looks like an after thought to me, but it didn't stop me from buying the Montero. I would never let a spare tire govern a vehicle purchase. Heck, with AAA and the modern world I'm of the opinion that spare tires are probably not even necessary anymore. I owned an RX-8 that didn't have one, and never worried about it. The spare in my RX-7 is stock original, and never has tasted pavement.

Of course with all this being said I will have a blow out on my way home from work. If that happens I will be waiting for a tow as my company removes all the spare tires from the vehicles. I wouldn't look past the GM offerings for full sized vans. I have a 2011 Chevy, and it has been awesome in the 4 years I've "owned" it.

How about a Delica, with a safari basket, with the spare mounted to it? That way you get a diesel too.

In reply to Mazdax605: I thought the same thing when I bought the Fiat which has no spare. She has gotten three flats as far from home as she could.

Stefan (Not Bruce) wrote: Your Dad needs to open his mind and divest it of that old nonsense. In other words, I wouldn't touch that situation with a 10-foot pole, because no matter what you'll be blamed for any failures and he will frustrate you with his nonsensical desires.

Yup.

"Dad, I love you and will help you get whatever you want, but with your requirements, I don't have an answer. Want to go to the dealership on Saturday?"

Show him this and i dont know how he could turn down a full sized nissan van.

Fun fact:besides a hydro E-brake the van is completely stock

If Nissan can get the NV's act together in the fuel efficiency department I really think they'll have a winner. Especially if they slap the new Titan's front end on it. Oh and 4x4.

I'm a lover of panel trucks.

The Chevy Express/GMC Savanna is the last American design full size van, so he's just gonna have to deal with dragging the spare out from underneath it.

(I love you mtn.)

Applying logic to my Father is an exercise in futility. As for the spare tire issue, he was North of the Arctic Circle on a fishing trip when he had to climb under, so yeah, I'll give him that one. AAA does't reach where he goes fishing.

I did tell him how much better the newest vans are compared to what he is used to. Here is a photo of his reaction:

If I can get him to test drive a few, I think he will change his tune. My biggest concern is if a newer unibody van can withstand the abuse he dishes out. I wish Hummer made a van...

Haven't most vans been unibody for decades at this point?

Wall-e wrote: In reply to Mazdax605: I thought the same thing when I bought the Fiat which has no spare. She has gotten three flats as far from home as she could.

My wife's kia forte has no spare either, sucks when you wanted to use it on a saturday and now your day is shot waiting for the tow truck to take the whole damn car to the dealer for a new tire since we don't have a second car to just take the god damn wheel to them.

In reply to nepa03focus: The worst part was that twice the pot hole that killed her tire killed more by the time I got out there with a spare any tools so I ended up changing multiple flats since my wife figured that they didn't need to drag everyone's husband out there.

In reply to pinchvalve: About the spare tire thing, on my 2007 Chevy van I needed the spare tire and it wouldn't come down because the cable and pulley were all rusted. I got it down but it will never be able to put it back under the van. The joys of living in the rust belt.

Yeah, I'm good with an interior spare as a requirement. Even with the ridge line I see it as a feature.

pinchvalve wrote: His full-sized GMC hit 190,000 miles and he is ready to replace it. He is looking for a full-sized passenger van. 1. None of those ugly European-looking things! 2. Nothing from Dodge, they are crap! (this is based on experience with a used 1978 Plymouth Voyager) 3. Not a fan of Fords. 4. I can't stand the GMC because the spare tire is below the van...I want one with the spare in the back like every other van I ever owned! He has ruled out Mercedes, Dodge, Ford and GMC, and most likely Chevy. That leaves Nissan, and I am not sure he could go with a "for-in" van either. This is going to be an uphill climb. I think I will look for a kit to move the spare tire inside!

Uh...

In reply to Mike:

Just don't tell him about the crown Vic drivetrane

I would tell your Dad that unless he is willing to soften some of his requirements, that he can go unicorn hunting all by himself.

Hey Dad! How 'bout those Eagles?

Those Nissan vans are so ugly I'd rather have another hole in my head than own or even drive one for any time.

Does the van have to be new?

new ford van... trust me. get him to drive it.